Toowoomba flood death toll rises

PREMIER Anna Bligh has confirmed a ninth death from Queensland’s flash floods and the toll could get to more than double that, Premier Anna Bligh has told reporters.

Ms Bligh continued to warn Queenslanders of a potentially dramatic rise in the death toll from flash flooding at Toowoomba and in the Lockyer Valley.

“We continue to hold very grave fears for the people who are missing,” Ms Bligh said, adding that number had been revised down to 66.

“To everyone who has lost a loved one, you are in our thoughts and the thoughts of all Queenslanders and Australians.”

She said most of those who remained unaccounted for were from the Murphys Creek, Grantham and Withcott areas, in the Lockyer Valley west of Brisbane.

Ms Bligh said police and search and rescue teams were on the ground at Grantham and Withcott.

“We do have police on the ground at Murphys Creek but they’ve been unable to continue with the search and rescue because the weather has significantly worsened,” she told reporters in Brisbane.

She said extraordinary scenes had been playing out in the community of Forest Hill, where the entire population of about 300 is being airlifted to safety in Black Hawk helicopters.

Ms Bligh said waters had risen very quickly in the community, between Laidley and Gatton.

She said about half of the population had been flown out to date, with the rest to follow on Tuesday afternoon.

“The last report was that 126 people were on the ground still to be airlifted,” Ms Bligh said.

Ms Bligh said the situation in Brisbane and Ipswich was very serious.

“Ipswich and Brisbane are now facing their greatest threat and toughest test in more than 35 years,” she said, a reference to what’s expected to be the worst flooding since both communities were devastated in 1974.

Ms Bligh said her advice was that flood levels in the Brisbane River were expected to go beyond the 5.45 metres seen in 1974.

“Current predictions indicate the river will continue to rise into Thursday with flood levels expected to be higher than the 1974 peak,” she said.

Ms Bligh said her advice was that flood levels in the Brisbane River were expected to go beyond the 5.45 metres seen in 1974.

“Current predictions indicate the river will continue to rise into Thursday with flood levels expected to be higher than the 1974 peak,” she said.

“By midnight today river levels at Ipswich will reach the 18 to 19 metre mark, peaking some time during Wednesday at around 21 to 22 metres,” she said.

“By comparison the 1974 peak was 20.6 metres."

Ms Bligh said authorities would be holding two-hourly media conferences from Tuesday afternoon to keep the public informed of the changing situation.

“We are facing one of our toughest ever tests,” she said.

“We will only pass this test if we are calm, if we are patient with each other ... and if we listen carefully to the instructions we are being given.

”Now is not a time for panic, now is the time for us to stick together.“

Deputy Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said a disaster declaration had been made for the lower half of the state to include the greater Brisbane area.

”We would hope that police and emergency workers don’t have to use any of those powers,“ he said.

”As the premier said, this is not the time to baulk when you are asked to leave or asked to support emergency workers in the way we will help prepare the city for this certain flood event.“

The powers allow police to forcibly remove people if necessary, Mr Stewart said.